Al Nassr secured their place in the AFC Champions League Two final with a commanding 5-1 semifinal victory over Al Ahli of Qatar at Zabeel Stadium. Kingsley Coman starred with a brilliant hat-trick, scoring in the 12th, 45th, and 63rd minutes, while Angelo and Abdullah Al-HamdanPlayer·Abdullah Al-Hamdan added further goals to complete the comeback after Al Ahli struck first in the 10th minute.
The Saudi giants, who lead the Saudi Pro League, showcased their attacking depth and resilience. Al Ahli briefly silenced the traveling support when they took the lead early, but Coman's clinical response just two minutes later shifted momentum decisively. His first goal came from a sharp finish inside the box, exploiting space on the left flank. As the first half drew to a close, Coman doubled Al Nassr's advantage with a composed strike, sending his side into the break ahead.
Jorge JesusCoach·Jorge Jesus' side dominated possession and created numerous chances, reflecting their status as the competition's top scorers with 28 goals across the tournament. After the restart, Coman completed his treble with a powerful low drive, further dismantling Al Ahli's defense. Angelo and Al-Hamdan then sealed the result, ensuring Al Nassr's progression without the need for extra time.
This triumph follows their convincing 4-0 quarterfinal win over Al Wasl of the UAE, where Cristiano RonaldoPlayer·Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 11th minute. Iñigo Martínez added a header in the 24th, Abdulleah Al Amri struck two minutes later, and Sadio Mané rounded off the scoring in the 80th. Ronaldo's early contribution set the tone, bringing him to 969 career goals and inching closer to the historic 1,000 mark.
Ronaldo, rested earlier in the competition for workload management, returned for the knockouts and now stands one win from lifting his first Asian continental trophy with Al Nassr. The club, managed by Jesus, aims to end a prolonged trophy drought on the continental stage. Victory in the final would also secure qualification for the 2027/28 AFC Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League Elite, bolstering their ambitions.
Al Nassr will host Japan's Gamba Osaka in the final on May 16 at Al Awwal Park, enjoying home advantage in what promises to be a fiercely contested showdown. Gamba Osaka, runners-up in the J1 League last season, present a stern test with their organized defense and counterattacking threat. For Ronaldo, this represents a shot at adding to his collection of honors—his last continental success came with Portugal's 2025 UEFA Nations League triumph.
Coman's heroics underscore Al Nassr's squad strength beyond their talismanic forward. The Frenchman, thriving in a fluid attacking setup, exploited Al Ahli's deep block with intelligent movement and finishing. Al Ahli, unbeaten in five prior matches under Younes Ali Rahmati, struggled to contain the Saudi side's pressing triggers and positional rotations.
This run marks Al Nassr's deepest progress in the competition with Ronaldo at the helm. Leading the Saudi Pro League, they balance domestic supremacy with continental aspirations. The final looms as a defining moment, where Ronaldo could etch another chapter in his illustrious career while delivering Al Nassr their first ACL Two title.
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